Music Appreciation
Leaders: Tony Clayden and Edward Cross
Availability: unrestricted membership provided you are in Radlett & District U3A
Admission Cost £2 (to cover hall hire and refreshments)
The Group meets on the 3rd Monday of each month, for entertaining and interesting presentations by our own members.
Over the winter our series on 2nd-rate composers, who should be better known, continued with Colin Berkovitch's talk on the Swedish clarinettist and composer Bernhard Crusell. Edward Cross explained the technical aspects and how to spot the Baroque, Classical Romantic and Modern musical styles in their cultural/historical context. Alan Byers, our founder and leader until 2019 was the celebrity guest on Radlett Island Discs, talking about the very varied role of music has played in in his life and was presented with a gift to mark his exceptional contribution to the group. An equally varied programme is planned for the future.
All U3A members are welcome, there is no restriction on numbers. There will, as usual, be an interval for tea, coffee and chat.
Location of meeting: St Johns Church Hall, Gills Hill Lane, Radlett, WD7 8DF
Parking - limited parking at the church hall, free on street parking nearby
Day and time: third Monday of the month from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm as below:
Feb 17th - Pietro Mascagni - what did he compose apart from Cavelleria Rusticana? - by David Bagon
To the majority of people, Pietro Mascagni is only known for his opera Cavalleria Rusticana. He composed some wonderful music when he was young including a Mass, Instrumental Pieces and Religious Songs. It was only later that he composed many operas. The first half of David Bagon's presentation will include excerpts from a few of his 15 operas. After tea he will concentrate on his other amazing compositions. The meeting is on Monday 17 February 2.30 at St. John's Church.
Mar 16th - George Gershwin - Jonathan Bergwerk
Apr 20th - 125 years of the Proms - Gary Harding
May 18th - Songs for the winds - music for wind instruments - Colin Berkovitch
Jun 15th - Mainly British, mainly light - Tony Clayden
Jul 13th - Ballads, songs and snatches (and dreamy lullabies). - Colin Berkovitch
Many thanks to all those of you who come along and support our activities.
We currently have ‘unlimited’ space at the Church Hall, and all members of Radlett U3A are welcome to our meetings, whether actually a ‘member’ of our group, or not. There is no need to contact us in advance. You don't need to be a member of the music group to attend. (£2 at the door.)
Any Radlett U3A member is welcome to attend. Visitors from other local U3As are also welcome.
We do not confine ourselves to classical music.
Have you ever noticed:
- a cello asking a clarinet to dance (Weber's Invitation to the Dance)?!
- or a band of women inviting men to a drinking party only to massacre them after the men fell asleep, to avenge one woman's hurt at being jilted by her lover (Smetana's Sarka in Ma Vlast)?!
- or that the 4 woodwind chords at beginning of Mendelssohn's Midsummer nights dream represented the 'square of magic'?!
Photos
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